Sierra Leone officials asked other countries to help fight the growing mpox outbreak across their nation. Health workers recorded 3,350 cases since January started with 16 people dying from the disease. The country recovered 1,779 patients from mpox during the same time period. Deputy Health Minister Charles Senessie wants development partners to provide more resources for medical teams. Officials work around the clock to stop the pandemic from spreading further.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh opened a new treatment center that holds 400 patients on Thursday. The facility operates from Freetown to handle the rising number of sick people. Authorities expect 20,000 vaccine doses to arrive on Sunday for high-risk contacts and medical staff. Health workers already gave shots to 42,872 frontline medical personnel fighting the outbreak. The vaccines protect healthcare workers who treat mpox patients every day.
Mpox comes from the same virus family that causes smallpox and creates fever with skin problems. Scientists first found the disease during 1970 at the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organization declared its highest alert level during 2024 because of widespread cases. Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and Kenya also report thousands of mpox infections.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh opened a new treatment center that holds 400 patients on Thursday. The facility operates from Freetown to handle the rising number of sick people. Authorities expect 20,000 vaccine doses to arrive on Sunday for high-risk contacts and medical staff. Health workers already gave shots to 42,872 frontline medical personnel fighting the outbreak. The vaccines protect healthcare workers who treat mpox patients every day.
Mpox comes from the same virus family that causes smallpox and creates fever with skin problems. Scientists first found the disease during 1970 at the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organization declared its highest alert level during 2024 because of widespread cases. Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and Kenya also report thousands of mpox infections.
